African Horse Safari in Kenya | A Horseback Safari with The Safari Co. | Horse riding in Kenya's Masailand

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Horseback Safaris in Kenya

MASAILAND TRAIL – LAIKIPIA RANCH
8 days & 14 days kenya experience

safari cost ·  weather  ·  general info  ·  what to bring 

8 DAYS RIDING SAFARI - 2 NIGHTS DELORAINE
DAY 1
You will be collected from your Nairobi Hotel or directly from the airport. Drive with a picnic lunch through the fertile Kikuyu Highlands before dropping down 2000 ft into the Great Rift Valley. We cross the volcano studded floor of the Rift before ascending the Mau Escarpment on the far side and thence to the Masai capital of Narok. We reach our camp in a grove of fever trees by a small stream at the foot of the Loita Hills near the village of Barkitabu in time for tea. There may be time for an evening ride. Overnight Barkitabu.

DAY 2
Our first moving day with the horses and after breakfast we pack up a picnic lunch to be carried in our saddle bags. Leaving the Loita Hills behind us we cross the plains to the foot of the Bardamat Hills. A ride of approximately 30 km's. As we ride we encounter an increasing amount of game including giraffe, zebra, buffalo and a variety of plains game. We arrive at our next camp set up beside the Olare Lamun Springs. Overnight Olare Lamun.

DAY 3
A full day to explore this remote area with abundant game. Drives, rides and walks may be taken from camp. Overnight Olare Lamun.

DAY 4
Another moving day and we break camp in good time as it is the longest ride of the trip covering nearly 50km's. We ride across rolling open plains and the game generally becomes more plentiful as we approach the Mara ecosystem. We should see herds of zebra, topi, giraffe, wildebeest, gazelle and there is a good chance of seeing elephant and buffalo as well. We reach our camp on the edge of the Masai Game Reserve on the Olare Orok lugga late afternoon. From camp we are likely to hear lion and hyena at night and the abundance of game is apparent everywhere. Overnight Olare Orok.

DAY 5 & 6
Two full days of morning and evening rides from camp with the option of driving into the game park for some good photographic opportunities. From the land rovers we can get much closer to lion, elephant and buffalo than we are able to do from the horses. Overnight Olare Orok.

DAY 7
Another moving day and we follow the Olare Orok Lugga upstream before heading our across the plains to the foot of the Siria Escarpment, where we find our final campsite set up on the banks of the Mara River. Close by there are some hippo pools and their grunting at night is a special feature of this camp. Overnight Mara River.

DAY 8
Once again we are able to go for a morning and evening rides from camp as well as using the vehicles for our final day in the Mara. Overnight Mara River.

DAY 9
Leaving camp after breakfast with a picnic lunch we drive to Deloraine via the impressive tea growing area of Kericho. We arrive in time for tea and an evening walk around the beautiful garden. Overnight Deloraine.

DAY 10
An early morning ride before breakfast is optional. Also day trips to either Lake Nakuru or Bogoria famous for their flamingoes can be arranged with a picnic lunch. Overnight Deloraine.

DAY 11
Transfer to Nairobi.

SAFARI ENDS

Your flight out from Kenya to your next destination - maybe to Zanzibar or Seychelles for an added unforgettable island experience.

14 DAY LONG DISTANCE SADDLE SAFARI
DAY 1
Arrive Nairobi airport. Transfer to Deloraine the Voorspuys home on the western side of the Rift Valley near Nakuru a two and a half hour drive from Nairobi. Safari briefing will be held at some stage during the day. Day at leisure. Overnight Deloraine.

DAY 2
A full day at Deloraine to ride and relax. A trip by vehicle to Lake Nakuru is optional. Overnight Deloraine

DAY 3
Drive after breakfast with a picnic lunch ascending the western wall of the Rift Valley and through the tea country of Kericho. We then head south across the Loita Plains before ascending the Loita Hills close to the Tanzanian border. We reach camp set up beneath a grove of fever trees on the edge of the Morijo Swamp. Overnight Morijo.

DAY 4
After a traditional English breakfast we go for a long morning ride. Game in the area includes buffalo, eland, hartebeest, warthog and colobus monkeys. We come into contact with nomadic Loita Masai. Return to camp for a late lunch. In the evening we can take a walk along a nearby stream and look for signs of the elusive leopard and bird watch. Overnight Morijo.

DAY 5
Our first moving day. We climb to the highest point in the Loitas 8600 ft (Subugo) with spectacular views all round. We then descend to the foot of the Loitas following a rough cattle track where we will have to do a certain amount of walking on foot. We find our camp set up in a beautiful glade at Leshuta. Overnight Leshuta

DAY 6
We move on again riding northwest across the Loita Plains keeping the hills on our right. We hope to have our first encounter with giraffe and other plains game before arriving at our next camp Barkitabu. Overnight Barkitabu

DAY 7
Leaving the Loita Hills behind us we cross the plains to the foot of the Bardamat Hills. As we ride we encounter an increasing amount of game as we approach the Mara ecosystem. Overnight Olare Lamun Springs.

DAY 8
A full day of game drives and rides from this remote campsite. Lunch in camp and evening walks are also an option to be recommended. Overnight Olare Lamun.

DAY 9
A long day in the saddle. We skirt the southern end of the Bardamat Hills and cross the rolling plains with distant views of the Siria Escarpment. We reach our camp on the edge of the Masai Mara Game Reserve on the Olare Orok lugga late afternoon. From camp we are likely to hear lion and hyena and the abundance of game everywhere is apparent. Overnight Olare Orok.

DAY 10 & 11
We have two full days in this campsite to enjoy morning and evening rides and have the opportunity to drive into the game park. The abundance of game in the area is incredible and the sheer numbers and variety of plains game plus the predators that feed off them make for an amazing spectacle. The campsite is in a beautiful grove of Euclea, Diospyros and Warburgia trees. Overnight Olare Orok.

DAY 12
We follow the Olare Orok Valley north and have the chance to swim our horses in a secluded and beautiful pool before crossing the watershed of the Aitong plains and descending to the Mara River where we have our picnic lunch. We generally cross the river near our camp which is surrounded by hippo pools and their grunting at night is a special feature of this our final campsite. Overnight Mara River.

DAY 13
A full day of game drives and rides in this area. Overnight Mara River.

DAY 14
Today is the final day of the safari. We leave the camp after breakfast and drive with a picnic lunch back to Nairobi.
Note: Laikipia is a unique wildlife area and contains an enormous diversity of wildlife from the Big Five downward. It is famous as the last reserve of the Jacksons Hartebeest and is home of several rare species such as the Reticulated Giraffe, Beisa Oryx, Grevy's Zebra, Gerenuk and Somali Ostrich amongst others. In recent years the various landowners have tended away from exclusive cattle ranching to embrace more tolerance of game and even large predators such as lion and hyaena are more abundant now than they would have been 25 years ago.

SAFARI ENDS

Your flight out from Kenya to your next destination - maybe to Zanzibar or Seychelles for an added unforgettable island experience.

Cost:
Please contact us for a detailed quote

Included: Accommodation, meals,drinks supplied locally, guiding, riding, game drives, walks & mokorors and concession fees

Excluded: Air Transfers, Staff gratuities.
Single supplement: 50% (only applicable if unwilling to share)

Weather Conditions:
We have no winter or summer as we are so close to the equator. There are two rainy seasons November and April/May. The hottest months are February/March, September/October but there are no hard and fast rules on this. We ride at an Average of 5500ft. This makes for a cool climate and also means there are very few mosquitoes.

General Information
Our Horses are well schooled thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross. Many are home bred out of our best mares. All are tried for polo and our best polo ponies all go on safari. Therefore responsive, tough and fit. You will be pleasantly surprised.
Good riding ability is important and you should be comfortable at all paces and able to gallop out of trouble. We ride in big game country. You should be fit enough to ride between 4 and 6 hours a day. Weight limit 210 1bs, 95 kgs.

Types of Safari: We operate riding and landrover safaris from our luxury mobile tented camps in remote areas. All supported by lorry. Riding safaris always have landrovers along for game drives. Landrover safaris encourage walking conducted with an armed guide.

Accommodation: Spacious 10ft x 9ft sleeping tents with camp beds (double on request), mattresses, sheets and blankets. Towels, soap and torches provided. Gas lamp and hurricane lamp in each tent. Loo tent for each double tent and showers always available.

Type of horses: Well schooled thoroughbred and thoroughbred cross. Many are home bred out of our best mares. All are tried for polo and our best polo ponies all go on safari. Therefore responsive, tough and fit. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Riding Ability: You should be comfortable at all paces and able to gallop out of trouble. We ride in big game country. You should be fit enough to ride between 4 and 6 hours a day. Weight limit 210 1bs, 95 kgs.

Length of rides: 4 - 6 hours in the saddle. Picnic lunch carried in saddle bags on moving days. 1 1/2 - 2 hour lunch stops. Some walking on foot necessary over rough terrain.

Size of rides: Minimum of 4, maximum of 12 on set departures. Tailor made as name suggests.

Tack: English. Various saddles, polo, wintec, French Trekking and Australian stock. Mainly snaffle bridles.

Meals: All food is fresh. We carry dry ice and cubes and are self sufficient for one week. Bread is baked daily on open fires and our chefs are extremely good. You will again be pleasantly surprised.

Drinks: Beers and Sodas are free, as is all alcohol on Tailor made safaris. Set departure ask for wines, spirits to be covered at cost. Duty fee whisky is offset against this if brought.

Terrain: Most of the rides in Masailand and the Northern ranches are on fairly open plaines (black cotton soil) interspersed with bush. They are short grass plains ideal for riding. Care must be taken for holes but canters and gallops are taken on open plains.

Other Activities: Game drives, night game drives and game walks are undertaken on every safari whether riding or not. There is no lack of activities on safari.

Insurance: Whilst we carry public liability insurance and take all possible care we strongly advise you to have full medical and holiday insurance. These are adventure safaris.

Game: Is plentiful everywhere we conduct riding safaris. We ride where dangerous game abounds. Your guide is knowledgeable and conversant with the habits and likely reactions of the game, in any situation you should do as he/she says.

Children: We will accept children on riding safaris but they must be competent riders. There are no discounts for children.

Non-riders: We will take non-riders but this should be discussed with us. There are often days on safari which will suit the non-riders better than others. The full set departure trips are not recommended for non-riders.

Single Supplement: Is only charged for those who refuse to share accommodation.

Information we require: Age, weight, height and riding experience. Special drink requirements and any dietary restrictions or allergies.

Medical: A medical kit is on hand in camp and in the saddlebags. We are in radio contact from camp with the Flying Doctor Service. Clients should take an anti malarial drug but we strongly warn from experience against the side effect of larium. You require yellow fever vaccination only.

Cash: We suggest people changing US$100 on arrival and get $30 in small change Kshs.20, 50 and 100 notes. There are no opportunities to change money once you have left Nairobi and small attractive items are on sale from the Masai.

Tips: This is a present from the heart and clients should only tip if they are happy for the service provided. There are no hard and fast rules but your guide will help you on this. Tips are collected by the guide in any denomination you wish and distributed evenly amongst the staff.

Iteneraries: Whilst we try and stick to the advertised itinerary we fully reserve the right to change it to suit weather conditions and game movements. This will only be with the guest's best interest at heart.

Photography: Please be careful when photographing tribesmen and check with your guide first. Also video camera owners should bring a 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter to charge batteries. There are no generators in camp.

What to Bring:  (Clothes List)
The following are recommended:
Soft Holdall Type Bag
Gloves
Sun Hat
Penknife/Bottle Opener
Waterproof Mac/Poncho
Holiday Reading
Optional Foot Wear for Riding
Binoculars
Warm Jersey
Jeans x 2/Riding Trousers
Provided:
Sheets and Blankets
Soap and Towels
Miscellaneous:
Shorts and Tee Shirts
Malaria Pills
Chaps or Half Chaps
Optional :
Sun Block
Water Bottle
Mosquito Repellent
Camera and Film
Small Torch
Money Belt or Cotton Waist Coat
Sun Glasses
Light Weight Jacket
Saddle Bags
Gym Shoes/Flip-flops
Long Sleeved Cotton Shirt x 4
First Aid
Hac. Tac Jodpurs
Torches
Swimming Costume
Laundry will be done on non-moving days therefore luggage should be kept to a minimum.

Indemnity: Clients will be asked to sign an indemnity in camp before they ride.

Please Contact Us for more details


Terms and conditions:
Please read our terms and conditions for more information on how to book, travel insurance, cancellation fees, baggage and other important issues.

 


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African Horse Safari in Kenya | A Horseback Safari with The Safari Co. | Horse riding in Kenya's Masailand


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